Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SCSU, Devinder Maholtra says economic hardships, decreased funding opportunities, and students wanting to stay closer to home are some believed reasons for the decrease.

Despite the overall four and a half percent drop in total enrollment, the university reports that enrollment among students of color increased from last year. Among new entering freshman, 19 percent were students of color. There are 112 new honor students enrolled. Non-traditional students, ages 30-34, increased 3 percent.

Maholtra says St. Cloud State’s future goal is increase market share and total base of potential students by reaching out to all markets including non-traditional students, military veterans, and transfer students.